>> there you have it live from independent square. thanks so much for watching al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford. "fault line" is up next. paramilitary, and they're at war. we have come to meet a group of activists. they formed almost two decades ago, after a series of farc

guerillas, working alongside the colombian military. they invited us to go into the mountains where people were displaced by a paramilitary group working in the area. i'm steven cole. we are following breaking news at the moment. from lebanon - two bombs exploded in beirut. detonated within metres of each other in a southern suburb close to the iranian cultural center and embassy.

the red cross say two have been killed. 35 have been wounded. stefanie dekker joins me now from beirut. stefanie dekker, tell us what more do we know about the explosions. >> what we see is tense. there are conflicting reports. it was a car and a motorcycle, and also two car becomes. this news is coming in. we see wreckage of a car, in tront, as you said, of the iranian cultural center. there is a flag on top. building. this is a densely populated area. it's an apartment. i can see a shop and jackets. this is very much heavily populated and leaves people concerned. there has been around seven explosions since hezbollah said it was fighting.

these scenes showing the country. >> stephy, tell us more about where the bombs went off. in other words, tell us about the neighbourhood. >> well, this is a shia area, heavily populated shia. people loyal to hezbollah. this is where the issue comes from. we had three al qaeda groups saying that they'd target hezbollah, they were going to target the shia population. in response, because of hezbollah fighting inside syria, with bashar al-assad against the revolution. people are concerned. they have been through wars. this time, they say, it's different. they don't know where it's coming from. hezbollah accuses the car bombs coming through. lebanon syria reports on refugee stories.

this is an area that at the moment the syrian government launched a campaign to re take it. these are the allegations. the car bombs are assembled, coming through the area. they have intercepted a couple of bombs recently. a couple of days ago, 250 kilograms. that's the car that the army found coming into the country. a lot of concern about the security situation which people say is absolutely out of control. >> and i suppose what people there fear is being drawn even further into this polarization along sectarian lines because of what is happening in syria. >> absolutely. it's playing out. we can see it in front of us here. it's a spill over of the war in syria, playing out on the streets in lebanon, in heavily populated area amongst

civilians. this is political. this is in response - we have to say we don't know who carries this. there hasn't been a claim of responsibilities, we know in the past some of the groups affiliated with al qaeda targeted and claimed responsibility saying this is because hezbollah is fighting on the side of the government inside syria, and you'll speak to syria. everyone tells you it is a tense situation. at least you knew where the line was, who the enemy was, it's suicide bombers. it's random explosions in the middle of the street. it's a huge concern. this is played out politically. it's a new government formed, made up of march the 8th, march the 14th. two groups. the future movement, hezbollah, opposing roles and opinions on the war in syria. everyone tells you that they believe this is spillover from the war in syriaand is

concerning because people don't know where it comes from. >> we have been talking to an analyst who believes the attacks are linked to the formation of a new government. >> it's possible. i have to tell you politics in lebanon, they are complicated. there are some not happy with the make-up of the government. it's a government made up of 888, meaning you have eight seats to march 8th, where hezbollah is part of, 8 to to sent rust. some are not happy sitting with hezbollah. and others not happy with other issues. it's difficult to say why this has happened. there's an element that that could be the case. a lot of people we speak to say this is another attack which is

as a result of what is going on in syria. >> stefanie dekker in beirut. thank you. >> an official inquiry started in singapore into the unrest. the first in the country for 14 years. migrant workers rioted in little india. the government blamed alcohol and launched a crack down. others blamed the way workers are treated. scott heidler has this report. >> this is something singapore has not seen in more than four decades. violent civil unrest. last december a bus accident killed an indian migrant worker. within minutes the streets erupted into a riot. >> this man worked nearby. >> police cars came every five minutes, two or three. upon reaching the place, they were shocked. this is something they would never expect.

>> maybe they aspect canning fights of ten people, it was in the hundreds. >> concerned about further unrest the government passed a new security law, allowing police to stop and search anyone order. >> drinking fuelled the riot. the committee will report within six months. >> it will be an infringement of civil liberties. >> the constitution provide a wide scope for the government to place restrictions on various things, including freedom of speech and movement. government official declined to speak to al jazeera. some groups are concerned about the government clamp down after the riot in little india, presenting workers coming to one place where they can find a sense of community.

>> this man worked in singapore for six years and has been home to bangladesh twice. he spends most night at a workers. >> i'm thinking i see my family. >> after the riot more than 50 workers from india had work permits cancelled. they were gorted. this woman met them and is worried about the workers in singapore. >> i'm concerned if they'll put in aggressive ukrainian measures to detain them, put them far anyway in the middle east in a community. >> that would be worse than the cramped conditions where many life. the singaporean government for now keeps a watchful eye on little india. some feel dealing with the smallest issues instead of the

bigger - improving the lives of migrant workers. >> our guest from the think tank area in sipping pore said government rehabilitation will not help. >> migrants fear the police. whether they'll be asked to stop and be banned from the area. transportation issive. they are applying in the dormitories. there is already a fear and knowledge that if they don't get paid, they get less pay and paid from where they come from. the pays are not the same. all this will continue, and in the present situation it is that

they are defining south asians as being the colleagues. they are banning alcohol. >> although islam is the main religion in afghanistan and has been for centuries, it's home to people from other faiths. the last of the sikh community is suffering increased marginalisation. some say if the discrimination tips, they'll go. >> worshipping god with colour, song and mystical practices. it's a rare sight in afghanistan. followers of a religion practicing their faith. worshippers need to carry on 400-year-old rights. >> afghanistan is not an easy place to live as a religious minority. it sooks, and you know that too well. >> the

sikh community is a reflection. diverse and tolerant history. after surviving hundreds of years, the community says it has less rights than before. >> they struggled for years. last month a proposal was rejected to give the community a seat in parliament. >> that was the last straw. all of afghanistan's sikhs have threatened to leave for good, saying live under the taliban government. >> translation: if we cannot get our rights, we have no choice but to leave. if we have no place to cremate bodies, we'll leave. families will have to leave and become refugees somewhere. >> sikh men here say their properties are often illegally

tape by others and the them. >> translation: all our property is taken by force, and if you go to the courts, interior ministry or any other body, no one listens. someone took my house three years ago. i have all the document and went to the supreme court and they said action should be taken, but no one would take action. a powerful man took my house. >> he received racist death threats from the man, which he recorded and is forced to hide. >> the government responded to al jazeera inquiries saying:

>> a solution that people are waiting years for. these families are living proof of the country's tolerant pass. the modern story looks like isolation. the government faces losing one of its communities forever. >> italy has recalled its ambassador to india after further delays in the case of two italian marines held without charge since 2012. the italian foeign affairs minister is calling for help from the united nations. they opened fire on a boat they believed to be a pirate craft. two indian fishermen were killed. >> you are watching al jazeera, we'll be back after a short

break with more coverage of the explosions in beirut. local emergency forces reveal two have been killed.

>> translator: that me, as one of the politicians -- i ask for your forgiveness. >> translator: this is requesting one of the doctors in my area right now. >> translator: i want right now to apologize on behalf of all politicians. regardless of which parties they

are from. regardless what position they hold. regardless when they were now or in the past. i want to tell you that politicians were not worthy of you. they were not worthy of the blood you spilled in the name of ukraine and i would like to do everything so that you can see different politicians, different officials. so that you are those -- you are included in rebuilding of new ukraine. and your ability, your patriotism, your honor will be positive new ukraine.

and now i think we all have to take care, you first of all because nobody trusts no one apart from you. the entire country trusts you. they want a guarantee from you that our country will not be taken and split apart. can you guarantee me that? and that is that is the only guarantee that others will accept. it's not only ukraine, it's not just ukraine these days have opportunity to build there on its life. please send a doctor.

>> translator: as we previously agreed if it's possible to transport the person to the stage, please bring them here. i would also like you to feel -- >> translator: please make a corridor so we are able to see

where to go to. >> that was former ukrainian mime minister speaking live from independence square in kiev ukraine. she says after three years of impress. she has returned to a different ukraine, speaking from a wheelchair to thousands of supporters, she honored the protesters who lost their lives, she said heros do not die and the crowd chanted the same in return. our jennifer glasse has been following the story from the very beginning and she joins us now live from independence square. jennifer, as we mentioned you have been following this whole thing from its inception. so let's talk about her, what

does her release mean? in what ways is she symbolic for this entire protest movement? >> reporter: she is emblematic for this movement, it is a momentous evening for the people here. for months this has been one of their main demands, that she be released without condition, she be released immediately. and tonight that came true. and she credited the people, she said none of this was possible without you. the first thing she did, she said was go to the barricades where the first -- where the first ukrainians died in this protest last month. she talked about those folks who gave their lives, those people who -- and she said that they deserve the future that they have. and you have an open road to build the ukraine the way you want it. she told people to stay here until they get what they want. not to leave the square. she says if politicians tell you, okay, we'll give you what you want and leave and we'll do it on your behalf. don't believe them. don't trust anyone, she says,

but yourselves, you should build a ukraine that you want. you deserve the ukraine that you want. she praised their courage, their bravery, their steadfastness. she said the first 5,000 people here shielded the 46 million people of ukraine. the kind of speech that the people wanted to hear from her. she is -- you can't see in the dark now, but there are giant posters of her all over independence square. she is really the symbol of this. i spoke to one of the guards behind this whole movement and she said, her release means victory. victory. but i think she indicated that it's really just a first step. there is still much to do. this the people must stand steadfast and stay in independence square until they get what they want. >> jennifer, i mean, we are watching the passion with which she spoke, i mean, literally shaking in her wheelchair, telling the people, politicians were not worthy of the blood

that you spilled. how are they reacting on the ground? how are the crowds going wild? >> reporter: i have to say, it's actually very magical here. it's been almost silent on this square, they have been hanging on her every world and the pauses between the words and her words are echoing across independence square. it's almost silent. thousands of people are there and really their i a sounds because they want to hear every word she has to say. this is the square where she ousted yanukovych in 2004. she says the time of dictator ship is over, she wants to see president yanukovych and those that supported him to come here and she says anybody that is responsible for the violence should face justice. there have buildin been some cht mostly awe that she is here. a reference for the moment that she had hoped, some didn't

believe would come but now she's here. we have to ask, is there any word yet on where president yanukovych it. you said his home was empty, his office was empty and he showed you question de90 saying i am not stepping down or going anywhere. where do you think he is now? and how do you think he and his comrades are reacting to what we just witnessed? >> reporter: well, he has to be uneasy watching his political rival stand here in the center of kiev with his office empty, with his home empty. he gave a defiant speech on television tonight. a taped interview, he says he is in you cranks the reports are he went to the east. ironically where she was jailed and where she just arrived from this evening. but we really don't know where he is. the east is his strong hold. there was a meeting there of his party of ring end renal end

representatives that says they are going to take control. that's something that she alluded to. she said do not let the country be split up. that's a real concern here as we move forward. ukraine is a very divided country. the east tend to go side more with the president can cove itch. more of a russian leaning country. more russian leaning part of ukraine and the west leaning more towards europe and yulia saying that the people here deserve a closer ties with europe as well. so a very emotional evening here as she takes the stage here in independence square. historic moment here. and she hasn't mentioned what her plans are, her political future plans are, but president yanukovych watching her on the stage tonight has to be wondering what his future is here. >> generajennifer just very brii want to touch on something you just said. you said initially this was an east versus west thing. what has it morphed in to since

then? >> you know, it started out as -- when president yanukovych didn't sign a trade deal with europe, that's how it all started out. but when he refused to acknowledge the people here, when he started to introduce draconian laws, this became about the future of ukraine, this became about ukraine as a democracy. when he introduced widespread laws to try to limit freedom of speech here. people came out in the thousands. when the police initially cracked down on peaceful demonstrators here it just brought more people out. this has really, really been about the peaceful democratic independent future of ukraine. they are concerned it will turn in to a police state. they are concerned that press yanukovych would become a dictator. they have called him a dictator. they have called him untrustworthy and feel that he did not have their best interest at heart. they felt that he was taking their freedoms away and that's why they have been so dead set against him and once the blood was shed the people said that he had to go. where he will go now, what he

will do next, well, we'll filed out soon, we hope. >> that remains to be seen and the future of ukraine is certainly something that yulia has been fighting for, saying, quote, no greater joy than to be born amongst people like you. sanction so much, jennifer glasse live from kiev. one factor that's fueling the protests in ukraine is the gap between the country's rich and the country's poor. al jazerra's marr marry snows explained. >> reporter: behind the revolt a fight for a better future and universal human rights, while there are many divisions among ukrainians over how to go about that. columbia university's jury says there is one underlying factor? >> they all grow one thing and that's economy. that the economic model practiced you up until recently by the yanukovych regime is equally oppressive to all of them. >> reporter: corruption has choked the economy, fueling

anger. ukraine failed to modernize its industries in it's a he post soviet era. economists say many businesses were forced to close after pro had prohibitive tax codes were imposed in 2010. and educated young people have left the country in droves. mostly immigrating to europe. >> what has happened in the economy is that about 20 people have become very rich, billionaire and they have taken over the big soviet enterpirses and also developed action culture on a great scale now. while most of the population are doing quite poorly. >> gdp per capita is roughly $7,300, to put that in perspective, that's about one-third of neighboring poland and about 1/7th of the united states. when comparing to russia there is a big difference among its population. >> why are ukrainians revolting and not russians? rush as has done so much better

economically than ukraine, people are reasonably happy with their material well being. while the ukrainian have his no reason to be happy with their materials. ♪ ♪ before we go we want to give you a recap of our top storys. former ukrainian prime minister yulia made a very dramatic return to the spotlight minutes ago speaking to the crowds in independence square in kiev. she called the protesters heros for centuries. earlier today the ukrainian apartmenparliament removed prest yanukovych from office. the you u.s. is weighing in wite white house issuing a statement saying they welcomed her release from prison, add that go it

hoped it would help move the country on towards a peaceful resolution of this crisis. over in cat van city, pope transit promoted 19 bishops to the cardinals. retired pope benedict district made an unexpected appearance greeted by the cardinal. remember for news updates throughout the day, you can head over to aljazerra.com. i am morgan radford. >> >> the dollar is the most remarkable achievement in the history of money. think of it. this piece of paper cost nothing to produce, there's nothing behind it except the goodwill of ben bernanke, and the u.s. congress. this

ec